Investment in technology sets up B.C. contractor for success

United Group has an extensive history of helping build British Columbia over the past 80+ years, working on key infrastructure projects like the original Sea to Sky Highway. With recent investment in Topcon technology and John Deere equipment, the company is primed for growth into new regions and is well-equipped to tackle larger construction projects.

Building B.C. since 1939

United Group's history is deeply rooted in British Columbia, dating back to November 1939 when A.B. (Tony) Cicozzi incorporated ‘United Cartage Co Ltd', a hauling and trucking company servicing the region with a fleet of tandem axle dump trucks. United Cartage Co continued to grow with the acquisition of Hassell Bros Contracting in 1954, later renamed to United Contractors Ltd. United Contractors worked on numerous infrastructure projects throughout B.C., including the original construction of the Sea to Sky Highway in the 1960s – a challenging thread of highway skirting steep rocky terrain alongside the ocean, connecting North Vancouver to Whistler and beyond. The company also became actively involved in the BC Road Builders Association with founder Cicozzi, as the first President of the association and on the Board of Directors from 1966 to 1968.

The company continued to work on projects throughout British Columbia's lower mainland, and when Cicozzi passed in the 1990s his brother and son took over the company, changing the name in July 1998 to United Earth Contractors Corp. In 2023, the name was updated to United Group, a change that reflects the company's growth in service offerings. 

Today, United Group is a full-service company and has grown to over 100 employees with 200 pieces of equipment across three main divisions: United Earth, United Civil, and United Equipment, which specialize in earthworks, civil construction, and equipment rentals respectively. The company has done residential development, commercial development, major highway infrastructure, landfill closure and reclamation, land clearing, and grading. 

"Construction of Highway 17 was when we really grew as a company," says Dave Kleszewski, president of United Group. The four-year highway construction project involved building a 34km four-lane highway between Surrey and Delta. 

In 2023, Corporate Vision named United Group the Best Commercial Development & Landfill Restoration Company – British Columbia, highlighting its accomplishment in reclaiming and closing a portion of a landfill in Richmond.

United Group grows with investment in John Deere machines

Since its beginnings in 1939 with a fleet of tandem axle dump trucks, United Group's fleet has grown drastically to over 200 pieces of equipment today. The modern fleet primarily consists of John Deere equipment, including rock trucks, excavators, dozers, backhoes, skid steers, wheel loaders, and more, all supplied by Brandt Tractor Ltd. 

"We are big on relationships here at United Group, and have built a great relationship with Brandt over the years to where we are now their biggest buyer in the lower mainland. They have always been able to get us equipment when we need it," says Kleszewski. Although United didn't start with all John Deere equipment, the company has focused on investing in the John Deere product in recent years, including an investment in K and L series dozers to modernize the fleet and streamline maintenance, operator training, and dealer support.

United Group remains focused on staying at the leading edge of its business, constantly updating the fleet with newer equipment once machines reach roughly the 5,000 hour mark. Not only does new equipment appeal to and attract operators, but the technology offerings, fuel savings, and performance offers United Group a competitive edge in a market saturated with contractors competing for work.

Technology meets the dirt

Early adoption of Topcon Positioning Systems technology for both heavy equipment and surveying has underpinned United Group's growth. The contractor bought its first piece of Topcon technology in 2015, an indicate-only system for a Caterpillar D6T dozer. Today over 50 percent of United Group's large equipment is outfitted with Topcon machine control. 

United Group's fleet of Topcon-equipped machines now includes two 850 Deere dozers, two 700 dozers, and two each of the 245, 345, and 470 John Deere excavator models all equipped with 3D MC-Max machine control systems. The 245 size excavator and up is where United Group really notices production gains from 3D MC-Max grade control technology. In addition, United Group recently acquired the first MC-Mobile system installed on a Level Best box blade in Canada, which is currently fitted to a 333G John Deere skid steer. Alongside machine control, United Group invested heavily in base and rover kits for its in-house survey team. Multiple base stations allow for strategic setup of permanent bases to reduce any errors from daily setup. While rover kits enable accurate regular surveying for project take offs, design builds, and survey pickups on the job. 

"Technology is an up-front investment. A lot of companies don't see the benefit of it right away, but we have a long-term focus. It has given us an advantage and ability to tackle projects at a rapid pace," explains Kleszewski. 

United Group has also invested in drone surveying technology including Propellor software. This technology unlocks potential for their survey team to perform design builds, and more importantly enables quantity tracking in a marketplace where being accountable for materials on a project is important. 

"We used to send out surveyors to get quantities on projects. With drone surveying, we get cost accountability with materials and accuracy on projects," says Kevin Jones, operations manager.

Getting productive with technology

With an industry-wide workforce shortage, experienced operators are hard to find, resulting in a pool of less experienced operators entering the industry. Technology is helping address this issue by enabling operators with little experience to achieve a baseline of productivity on machines equipped with Topcon machine control. United Group's 3D MC-Max-equipped John Deere dozer fleet is a fine example.

"It's very user friendly, we can honestly put anyone in the machine. If they know how to operate a machine, they can be taught how to operate GPS," explains Rusty Hodge, site superintendent. 

"Now we are putting experienced operators in machines equipped with machine control and getting two to three times the production. We have since changed our opinion of ‘it's expensive' to ‘everything needs it,'" says Kleszewski. 

United Group's landfill closure and reclamation project proved that point during construction of a mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) wall using Topcon-equipped dozers. Operators of all skill levels were achieving tight tolerances on fills, minimizing rework and reducing waste of materials, all of which translates to a healthier bottom line for United Group and the client.

Rock-solid support from Brandt Tractor

From United Group's first purchase of John Deere equipment and Topcon technology to the numerous pieces of equipment and technology in their fleet today, Brandt Tractor has been right alongside supporting the company's growth. "Dave [Kleszewski] has been a great supporter of Brandt and has become one of our biggest customers in the span of about a year and a half. They've been really good to deal with," says Jake Buskell, sales manager for Brandt Tractor's Positioning Technology Division. 

Brandt supports United Group from start to end, including acquisition and delivery of heavy equipment, performing installations of Topcon machine control on their fleet, supplying parts, and repairs. They are a full-service dealer for all United Group's needs and have grown alongside United Group, adding more field technicians to the team. 

"We started adding all machines to the remote support desk within Sitelink. Our technicians can dial into machines to diagnose problems, view error codes, and determine what parts are needed before we even send them out into the field," explains Joseph Bradley, regional service manager with Brandt Tractor's Positioning Technology Division. 

"We really haven't had to call Brandt much, and if we have, they have been great with warranty," notes Hodge.

Unique application for new technology

United Group certainly isn't afraid of technology. In early 2024 they again took initiative and added a new Topcon product: MC-Mobile. Currently fitted on a Deere 333G skid steer, MC-Mobile functions as both a rover kit and machine control package, with the ability to create designs as a rover kit, then use the same design in Pocket 3D software on an Android tablet for grading. The system really gives one operator the ability to be self-sufficient, creating designs on the fly and then using them in the machine to build to. 

United Group recently used MC-Mobile on a warehouse grading project in Surrey when partnering with a builder from Alberta. This project was different because the builder constructed the walls and roof before installing underground utilities and grading for a concrete slab – an approach that has proven successful in Alberta's harsh weather conditions. 

The United Group team had to install underground utilities and complete final grading for concrete slab to mm accuracy inside the building. Using a Local Positioning System (LPS) comprised of Total Station, MC-Mobile system, and Prism in place of GR-I3 GNSS receivers, United Group deployed a John Deere 700L dozer and the 333G skid steer to complete the final slab prep. 

"We are ahead of schedule on this project thanks to our team, the machines, and the technology. That total station has mm accuracy, moving the dozer blade up to 100 times per second," says Ryan Morrison, general superintendent. Having the ability to complete precise grading for a concrete slab indoors where conventional GNSS from a base station or network may not have proven reliable was a real advantage on this project. 

"Technology has really sped up the grading process to where every pass I make is accurate to a few mm," says Karl Taschner, heavy equipment operator with United Group. Once complete indoors, both the skid steer with Level Best box blade and dozer can easily convert back to using GNSS receivers operating off a local base station or Brandtnet, a service developed by Brandt Tractor's Positioning Technology Division. This RTK GNSS network service allows contractors using Topcon technology on their machines to connect and start receiving GPS corrections without the need for base station setups.

Looking ahead to further expansion

United Group certainly isn't done growing yet, and plans to expand in the Lower Mainland. The company also aims to add four more locations within the next five years, expanding into Edmonton, Squamish, Vancouver Island, and the Interior of B.C. 

"Dave [Kleszewski] sets goals for the year, and we make it our goal to beat those goals," says Terry Traynor, project manager with United Group. 

United Group's ambitious growth is underpinned by quality work and its track record of infrastructure projects in the Lower Mainland. The team is tuned into replicating that success in new regions. 

"We are one giant team here at United Group. Nothing gets done without each other – I really have to applaud everyone's effort," says Kleszewski. With ambitions to be one of the top 5 construction companies in the region, United Group plans to purchase more John Deere equipment and Topcon technology. "We are already looking at more Deere 245 and 345 zero-swing machines with technology," says Morrison. The zero-swing machines really shine on road work projects where space is limited and work is often conducted adjacent to live traffic. 

Mack Plovie is the president and chief dirt enthusiast of Earthmovers Media Group.